A curious conversion in playing-cards occurs in reference to this word. The invention is Indian, and the game is called The Four Rajahs. The pieces are the king, his general or fierche, the elephant or phil, the horsemen, the camel or ruch, and the infantry. The French corrupted fierche (general) into vierge, and then converted virgin into dame. Similarly they corrupted phil into fol or fou (knave); ruch is our rook. At one time playingcards were called the Books of the Four Kings, and chess the Game of the Four Kings. It was for chess, and not cards, that Walter Sturton, in 1278, was paid 8s. 5d., according to the wardrobe rolls of Edward I., ad opus regis ad ludendum adquatuor reges. Malkin said it was no great proof of our wisdom that we delighted in cards, seeing they were invented for a fool. Malkin referred to the vulgar tradition that cards were invented for the amusement of Charles VI., the idiot king of France; but it was no proof that Jacquemin Gringonneur invented cards because he painted and gilded three packs for the king in 1392.